Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who was on a five-day
trip to Europe met Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and the newly-elected
French President Emmanuel Macron among other top officials from the two
countries. Zarif held talks with Macron in Elysee Palace on Friday and
submitted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's written message to him.

Iranian FM Javad Zarif meets French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron and Zarif also discussed regional, international issues as well as
bilateral relationship.

On Thursday, Zarif also held a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves
Le Drian. During the meeting Zarif called for expanding banking relations
between the two countries.

Zarif also held a separate meeting with Gerard Larcher, the president of the
French Senate.

Larcher said France attaches great importance to ties with Iran and is willing
to have "continuous political consultations" with it.

Zarif who started his tour of Europe on Monday first visited Germany, where he
addressed the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and held talks with
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and
Federal Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schauble.

Talks with Italian PM

After concluding his visit to Germany, Zarif headed to Rome, Italy, holding
talks on bilateral relations with Prime Minister Gentiloni on Wednesday.

In a separate meeting with President of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy Laura
Boldrini, Iran's chief diplomat called for ways to expand relations.

Zarif invited Boldrini to visit Iran.

He also met separately with Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano.

Alfano said the JCPOA benefits international stability and expressed support
for full implementation of the international deal.

President Rouhani visited Italy and France immediately for the announcement
of the lifting of sanctions against Iran in January 2016.

The main goal of Rouhani's tour to Rome and Paris was to promote a stronger
economic relationship between Iran and the European Union. During his visit to
Rome, Iran and Italy signed contracts with a total value of $18 billion. While
in Paris, Rouhani also signed a contract to purchase about 100 Airbus planes.